Review: The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

 The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade

June 29, 2010
Hyperion Book

From Goodreads:
Alona Dare–Senior in high school, co-captain of the cheerleading squad, Homecoming Queen three years in a row, voted most likely to marry a movie star… and newly dead.

I’m the girl you hated in high school. Is it my fault I was born with it all-good looks, silky blond hair, a hot bod, and a keen sense of what everyone else should not be wearing? But my life isn’t perfect, especially since I died. Run over by a bus of band geeks—is there anything more humiliating? As it turns out, yes—watching your boyfriend and friends move on with life, only days after your funeral. And you wouldn’t believe what they’re saying about me now that they think I can’t hear them. To top it off, I’m starting to disappear, flickering in and out of existence. I don’t know where I go when I’m gone, but it’s not good. Where is that freaking white light already?

Will Killian–Senior in high school, outcast, dubbed “Will Kill” by the popular crowd for the unearthly aura around him, voted most likely to rob a bank…and a ghost-talker.

I can see, hear, and touch the dead. Unfortunately, they can also see, hear and touch me. Yeah, because surviving high school isn’t hard enough already. I’ve done my best to hide my “gift.” After all, my dad, who shared my ability, killed himself because of it when I was fifteen. But lately, pretending to be normal has gotten a lot harder. A new ghost—an anonymous, seething cloud of negative energy with the capacity to throw me around—is pursuing me with a vengeance. My mom, who knows nothing about what I can do, is worrying about the increase in odd incidents, my shrink is tossing around terms like “temporary confinement for psychiatric evaluation,” and my principal, who thinks I’m a disruption and a faker, is searching for every way possible to get rid of me. How many weeks until graduation?

My Review: 
Love, love, loved this book! It had just enough snark, paranormal, and romance elements to keep me nice and occupied. My homework went unnoticed while I was reading and I have absolutely no regrets! I loved Will and Alona and the growth they made throughout the story. There were laugh-out-load moments, and times where I got a little watery eyed. This book has everything in-between and I enjoyed it immensely!

Alona was a sassy character who had more to her than just being popular. Her home life is a mess but she still keeps her head up high, being the leader of her popular circle. When she dies, she is sure upset at first. I mean, who expects to die at such a young age? But then she realizes that maybe it isn't so bad after all. Her friends seem to be wrecks at her funeral and she hears them talking about ways to remember her. She also realizes that she won't have to worry about college and fighting her way up to the top. Die popular, stay popular. But then she hears her friends talking about her at school and they obviously held some grudges against her. She is furious but gets even more upset when she sees her "best-friend" Misty kissing her boyfriend just days after she died! Alona is not okay with this and just wants to be done and go up to heaven or wherever the dead are supposed to go. Then she realizes that Will Killian, goth boy and weirdo, can actually see her! She is determined to get him to help her and never backs down.

Will was a really sweet guy who had a tough life. He can see ghosts and hear them but no one believes him! His mother and others around him label him as crazy and he is diagnosed as schizophrenic. His mother is constantly checking in on him and he has no piece whatsoever in his life. The ghosts voices drive him crazy and he just wants them to stop. He doesn't know what he is or why he is what he is. Things get even worse for him when the ghosts at his school figure out that they can talk to him! And then Alona Dare, perfect and beautiful yet annoying, comes in and makes his life even crazier. This doesn't stop him from getting closer to Alona and understanding her better, maybe even falling for her.

Will and Alona each grow to be better people over the course of the novel. They each come to understand one another and blossom. They go through many things throughout the story and open up old wounds that haven't healed. I was really surprised that I liked Alona, as she was a little bratty and rude, but I came to understand that there was more to her than that. She was hiding under her words and her looks. She is much deeper and has gone through a lot due to her family. Will was my favorite. He was such a sweet guy and I really felt for all that he had to go through, especially with his dad.

The Ghost and the Goth is a fun and light-hearted read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I am really excited that there is a sequel coming out as I can't wait for more Alona and Will. I wish it wouldn't have taken me this long to crack open, but I'm glad that I finally did. I highly recommend this book.

My Rating: